Meaning
狮子
shī zi
Lion
- 狮
- lion
- 子
- noun ending
The everyday word for lion.
Lion in Chinese
The Chinese word for lion is 狮子 (shī zi). The everyday word for lion. In traditional characters it is written 獅子.
狮子
shī zi
Lion
What 狮子 means.
Stone guardian lions stand in pairs before Chinese palaces and temples, and the lion dance (舞狮) chases away bad luck at New Year. Real lions never lived in China; they came as gifts along the Silk Road.
- 狮
- lion
- 子
- noun ending
Simplified and traditional
狮子
獅子
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 獅子 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 狮子 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
Pick the shade of meaning.
Chinese often has more than one word where English has one. Here is how they differ.
Meaning
狮
shī
Lion
- 狮
- lion
The single character, bolder for small artwork.
About lion in Chinese
How do you write lion in Chinese?
Lion is 狮子 in Chinese, pronounced shī zi. Lion 狮 means “lion”, 子 means “noun ending”.
How do you pronounce 狮子?
Say shī (first tone, high and level), zi (neutral tone, light and short). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 狮子 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 獅子, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 狮子 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
What other Chinese words mean lion?
狮 (shī): Lion The single character, bolder for small artwork.
Is 狮子 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.